Samantha J. Strong answers homeowners' tough questions on everything from DIY projects to real estate in the Southside Pride, a monthly newsletter serving South Minneapolis.
Ask Sam - January 2011
Dear Sam,
Do you have any advice for matching existing laminate flooring (it's about 10 years old)? We need to rip some up because of a water problem, and the builder didn't leave us with any extra. If we can avoid replacing all of it, that would be fantastic. We need to really limit our spending on it since our house has depreciated about $30K and we don't want to get any farther in the hole on it than we have to before selling.
-Amanda
Dear Amanda,
I'm sorry to hear about your water problem. Laminate flooring comes in planks, and is comprised of a picture of wood glued to a medium density fiberboard (MDF) core, which is very susceptible to water damage. This is not an ideal choice for kitchens, baths, or any room that could be exposed to repeated (or accidental) surface water. But since you already have it, let's fix it. Assuming the leak, or overflow, has been mitigated, now we have to figure out what to do with that soggy floor. There are three possibilities:
1. Given some time with a large fan, the wet floor may dry itself out, essentially showing no signs of damage. In which case, great! But in reality, pretty unlikely, and true to your own experience.
2. You've tried #1 and, once dry, found that the floor has warped. If you have a better quality laminate with a more durable locking mechanism and extra pieces of flooring, you could attempt to "unsnap" the damaged planks and remove all of the damaged pieces. Start removing planks from the nearest wall. If the damage is in the middle, you'd have to take out everything from the wall to the damaged area. Then you'd install the new boards and reinstall the planks you removed. However, some laminates are made more cheaply than others and essentially break apart when you try to uninstall them. In these instances, you need to look at the third option.
3. No one likes the third option, unless you really dislike your laminate floor. It's full replacement. But there are places to go for flooring that don't cost as much as a retail store. For example, a builder's surplus warehouse has deals on all sorts of building materials, including flooring. You may be able to find another laminate, or if you're done with that, an inexpensive tile or wood product. Both the second and third options require specific tools, a can-do attitude and, most importantly, patience. If you give yourself plenty of time, this can be a moderately easy DIY project. Or, if time is harder to come by than money, this is something a carpenter or skilled handyman could do. Good luck! Replacing a laminate floor: Difficulty: 2 on a scale of 1 to 5; Cost: 2 on a scale of 1 to 5.
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